The Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award was created in 1964 by the Davenport Catholic Interracial Council. An Award is presented by the Diocese in collaboration with other organization to honor a person for their achievements in peace and justice, not only in their country but in the world.

The first Pacem in Terris award was given to John F. Kennedy in 1964. Since then it has included such notables as the activist Dorothy Day and religious figures such as Blessed Mother Teresa.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. He was born in 1935 to a farming family in a small hamlet located in Taktser Amdo, Northeastern Tibet.

At the age of two, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the previous 13 Dalai Lamas. At age fifteen, on November 17, 1950, he assumed full temporal political duties.

In 1959, following the brutal suppression of the Tibetan national uprising in Lhasa by Chinese troops, His Holiness was forced to flee to Dharamsala, Northern India, where he currently lives as a refugee.

He was awarded the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent efforts for the liberation of Tibet and concern for
global environmental problems.

Bishop Thomas Zinkula, from the Diocese ofDavenport, traveled to Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India to present the award on March 4, 2019 to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Dalai Lama receives Pacem in Terris Award

y Barb Arland-Fye The Catholic Messenger In his temple nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, more than 7,200 miles from Davenport, Iowa, the Dalai Lama received the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award from Bishop Thomas Zinkula on March 4. The journey culminated a years-long dream of the interfaith Pacem in Terris Coalition of the Quad Cities to honor one of the world’s most respected peacemakers. Usually, the award’s distinguished recipients — including Martin Luther King Jr., Desmond Tutu and Dorothy Day — travel to Davenport to accept the award. “It’s important to have world leaders accept the award in person so that they can share their message face to face with the people,” said Kent Ferris, who leads the Pacem in Terris Coalition. “But the Dalai Lama’s travel limitations meant that we needed to take the opportunity to go to India to honor him.”